English translations of Drei Duetten [sic] für weibliche Stimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, opus 12

by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858)

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1. Die Fischerkinder
 (Sung text)
by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Die Fischerkinder", op. 12 (Drei Duetten [sic] für weibliche Stimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1840 [ duet for 2 sopranos with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hast du von den Fischerkindern
Das alte Mährchen vernommen,
Die auf dem schwanken Kahne
Allein ins Meer geschwommen?

Sie pflückten sich Wasserrosen,
Sie sangen sich Lieder viele,
Sie herzten und küßten einander
Im süßen Wechselspiele.

Sie hatten den Strand verloren,
Als sich der Tag entschwungen,
Sie kehrten nimmer wieder,
Ihr Name ist verklungen.--

Und weißt du: wir sind die Kinder,
Die Maid du, ich der Knabe, 
Die Maid bin ich, du der Knabe
Das Meer ist unsre Liebe,
Die wird uns wohl zum Grabe!

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Confirmed also with a later edition, Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter, Dichtungen eines Rheinischen Poeten, Erster Band, Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1871, page 82, in which the poem is titled "Von den Fischerkindern".

by (Karl) Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter (1816 - 1873)
1.
Language: English 
Have you heard the old fairy tale
About the fisherman’s children?
The ones who went out to sea
Alone in a rickety boat?

They picked water-lilies for each other,
They sang each other many songs,
They embraced and kissed each other
In sweet exchange.

They [lost]1 sight of the shore
When the day departed,
They never returned,
Their names have been forgotten. --

And do you know: we are the children,
[You the maiden, I the lad,]2
The sea is our love,
It [shall likely]3 become our grave!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

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Translated titles:
"Ahnung" = "Premonition"
"Von den Fischerkindern" = "About the fisherman’s children"

1 Kinkel: "had lost"
2 Kinkel in the upper voice: "I am the maiden, you the lad" and in the lower voice: "You are the maiden, I the lad"
3 In later editions of the poem: "has long since"


This text was added to the website: 2015-01-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 90

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Der Sommerabend
 (Sung text)
by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Der Sommerabend", op. 12 (Drei Duetten [sic] für weibliche Stimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1840 [ duet for 2 sopranos with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Sommerabend schauet
So still auf's Erdenreich,
Tiefer der Himmel blauet,
Des Westens Rot wird bleich.

An den Bergen verglühet
Der goldne Abendschein,
Still heimlich rauschend ziehet
Drunten der tiefe Rhein.

Es duften Orangen und Rosen
Um das freundliche Haus,
Rosige Mädchen kosen
Von dem Balkon heraus.

Scherzend sich umschlingen,
Ringend im süssen Spiel,
Saiten und Lieder erklingen,
Ich sinne und träume viel;

Ich wandle auf und nieder
In süssem, seligen Traum;
Verklungen sind längst die Lieder,
Ich weiss es selber kaum.

Und wie ich erwache, blicket
So gross mich an die Nacht,
Der Himmel sternendurchsticket,
Und der Berge ruhige Pracht.

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Confirmed with Dichtungen eines Rheinischen Poeten, Band 1: Mein Herz ist am Rheine. Liederbuch von Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter, Vierte vermehrte und verbesserte Auflage, Leipzig, F. A. Brockhaus, 1871, p. 21.

by (Karl) Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter (1816 - 1873)
2.
Language: English 
The summer evening gazes
So quietly upon the earthly realm,
The sky is becoming a deeper blue,
The red of the west is becoming pale

And the golden glow of evening
Dims upon the hills,
Quietly, secretly rushing
The deep Rhine flows below.

Scent rises from the [vines]1 and roses
About the friendly house,
[Lovely]2 maidens are flirting
From the balcony.

They [struggle and]3 embrace
Each other, [playfully breast against breast]4
Strings and songs ring out
[And awaken forgotten passions]5.

I wander up and down
[With my most blissful dream]6;
The songs have long since died away,
I hardly know it myself.

And when I awaken, the night
[Darkens]7 at me so hugely,
The sky all [sparkled]8 through with stars,
[The hills in peaceful splendour]9.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

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English poem title: Near the seven hills
English song title: Summer evening

1 Kinkel: "orange trees"
2 Kinkel: "Rosy"
3 Kinkel: "Jokingly"
4 Kinkel: "Wrestling in sweet play"
5 Kinkel: "I ponder and dream many things"
6 Kinkel: "In sweet, blissful dreams"
7 Kinkel: "Gazes"
8 Kinkel: "embroidered"
9 Kinkel: "And the peaceful splendour of the hills"


This text was added to the website: 2013-12-16
Line count: 24
Word count: 136

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Nachtgesang
 (Sung text)
by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Nachtgesang", op. 12 (Drei Duetten [sic] für weibliche Stimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1840 [ duet for 2 sopranos with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O gieb, vom weichen Pfühle,
Träumend, ein halb Gehör!
Bei meinem Saitenspiele
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?

Bei meinem Saitenspiele
Segnet der Sterne Heer
Die ewigen Gefühle;
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?

Die ewigen Gefühle
Heben mich, hoch und hehr,
Aus irdischem Gewühle;
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?

Vom irdischen Gewühle
Trennst du mich nur zu sehr,
Bannst mich in diese Kühle;
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?

Bannst mich in diese Kühle,
Giebst nur im Traum Gehör.
Ach, auf dem weichen Pfühle
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. Night song
Language: English 
 O give, dreaming from your soft pillow,
 half an ear to me!
 To my lute's playing
 you sleep! what more do you want?
 
 To my lute's playing
 the set of stars blesses
 eternal feelings;
 you sleep! what more do you want?
 
 Those eternal feelings
 lift me sublimely high,
 away from the earthly crowd;
 you sleep! what more do you want?
 
 Away from the earthly crowd
 you sever me only too abruptly,
 entrance me in this cool place;
 you sleep! what more do you want?
 
 You entrance me in this cool place,
 give me your ear only in your dreams.
 Ah, on your soft pillow
 you sleep! what more do you want?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 112

Translation © by Emily Ezust